While most in Pittsburgh’s African-American community have voiced support for the health care bill signed into law on March 24, some still have differences of opinions. There are many who wish the bill had included sharper reforms and some who are still unaware of how the bill will actually affect them.

FREE RIDE?—Newly signed national health care legislation promises coverage to the uninsured. But some caution the mandate to buy insurance is too weak to force compliance, and the result will be higher costs.

“I am definitely for the health care reform bill,” said Branden Ballard. “As the richest nation in the world, it is about time that those who are most vulnerable, children and the elderly, have complete access to health care regardless of their situations.”

Many of those who’ve supported the bill from the beginning and others who have supported the cause before President Barack Obama took office view health care as a human right.

APRIL 9—The Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise will host their 2nd Annual “Inclusive Voices: Converse. Listen. Learn” from 12-1:30 p.m. at the Omni William Penn Hotel, 530 William Penn Place, Downtown. This event is a celebration of diversity and community involvement. Several community leaders will serve as table conversationalists, discussing topics dealing with diversity and community involvement. Guests include Police Chief Nate Harper, Sylvia Fields, Doris Carson Williams, Dr. Walter Smith and Judge Kim Clark. Tickets are $50 per person. For more information, call 412-562-0290.

Forensic seminars

APRIL 9—The Duquesne University Wecht Institute of Forensics Science and Law will host the Forensic Fridays Seminar from 1-4:30 p.m. at Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Ave., Uptown. Each month there will be a seminar covering forensics in relation to topics such as medical malpractice, accident reconstruction and sexual assault cases. This series is geared toward attorneys, judges, physicians, nurses, law enforcement officers and athletic trainers. The series is worth credits. The cost is $475 for all six seminars or $75 for each one. For more information, call the Wecht Institute at 412-396-1330.

Speaker series

APRIL 9—The Center for Africanamerican Urban Studies & the Economy of Carnegie Mellon University will host their 2009-2010 Speakers Series from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the university, 5000 Forbes Ave., Oakland. CAUSE aims to link the historian’s interest in race, work and economic change over time with contemporary analysis of the urban labor force, employment policies and community development. Once a month CAUSE will bring a special guest to give a lecture. This month’s guest is Leslie Brown, assistant professor of history at Williams College. The topic is “Plenty of Opposition...Which Has Been Growing Daily: Gender, Generation and Change in the Jim Crow South.” There will be refreshments prior to the lecture and discussion. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 412-268-8928 or visit www.hss.cmu.edu/cause.

Chili cook-off

APRIL 10—The Braddock Carnegie Arts Program will host their 4th Annual Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser from 1-5 p.m. at the Braddock Elks Lodge, 424 Library St., Braddock. There will be home cooked chili, good company and live entertainment. The winning chili recipe will receive prizes and special awards. The proceeds will benefit the Braddock Carnegie Arts Program’s youth programs. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children and $10 to enter a recipe. For more information, call 412-351-5356.

Celebrity roast

APRIL 16—The Hilton Hotel & Towers, will host the 12th Annual Mel Blount Youth Home All-Star Celebrity Roast at 6:30 p.m. at 600 Commonwealth Place, Downtown. The roast is a tribute honoring Super Bowl XL MVP wide receiver Hines Ward. Dinner will be at 7 p.m. and this is a black-tie affair. Tickets are $350 per person and proceeds will benefit the Mel Blount Youth Home. For more information, call 724-948-2311 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Family tournament

APRIL 17—St. Lawrence O’Toole Church will host the We Are Family Tournament of Bid Whist, Spades and Pinochle at 12 p.m. at the church gym, 140 N. Atlantic Ave., Garfield. On site registration will begin at 10 a.m. There will be a cash prize. The cost is $30 for players and $10 for observers and there will be a late fee for players who arrive after 10 p.m. For more information, call 412-330-9898, 917-805-5030 or visit www.bidwhist-spadestournament.com.

Brunch fundraiser

APRIL 18—The Satchels of Caring Foundation will host their Bags, Bellini’s and Brunch Fundraiser from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Chatham Village Clubhouse, 655 Pennridge Rd., Mt. Washington. The fundraiser is to support those undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. There will be food, a silent auction of designer purses and a variety of items for purchase. Tickets are $25 per person in advance, $30 at the door and $10 for students and children under 14. Reservations are requested by April 9. For more information, call Kathryn Petrie at 412-585-0044 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Alzheimer’s lecture

APRIL 23—The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health will host their annual Jay L. Foster Community Lecture in Alzheimer’s Disease at 1 p.m. at the Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Ave., Shadyside. The topic is “Caring for Loved Ones Suffering from Alzheimer’s.” Peter Rabins, M.D., M.P.H. and a professor will be the speaker and will discuss how family members can best care for their loved ones with late-stage dementia while also caring for themselves. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, call Jill Ruempler at 412-383-8849.

Monthly meeting

APRIL 24—The Afro-American Historical & Genealogy Society Pittsburgh Chapter will host their Monthly Meeting from 1-3 p.m. at the Homewood Carnegie Library, 2nd floor, Hamilton Ave., Homewood. Memberships are open to historians, genealogists and Laypersons of all races and ethnic groups. For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

(To have items listed on Community Calendar, send information at least two weeks in advance to: 315 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219; Fax: 412-481-1360 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .)

At 11:54 a.m. March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Senate overhaul of the health insurance industry, which the House of Representatives approved two days earlier.

On March 30, the president signed the final, reconciled version.

Initial reaction from health advocates and community leaders was largely positive.

Wilfred Payne, executive director of the Alma Illery Medical Center in Homewood, said the new law is positive for the Black community because it would prompt more uninsured Black men to get insurance.